In a move that somehow managed to be both historic and humiliating, the Oakland Athletics unveiled their Sacramento era with all the grandeur of a hastily planned backyard barbecue. While Carson Kelly cemented his name in the record books, the A’s found themselves on the receiving end of a scathing rebuke from a former MLB executive—because losing on the field apparently wasn’t enough.

Getting blown out seems to be a trend in the 2025 MLB season. First, it was the Brewers, and now it’s the Athletics. The A’s just lost to the Cubs, again. And this time it wasn’t just a loss, it was a full-fledged beating as the Cubs trashed the Athletics 18-3. If that wasn’t enough, ex-Marlins President David Samson ranted about the facilities of the A’s new stadium.

Samson didn’t hold back when discussing the Athletics’ temporary home at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. He said, “It is a minor-league ballpark. It’s not even a major league spring training facility. It is a minor league ballpark where a ton of money were put in. But you can’t make a minor league ballpark a major league ballpark in an offseason of renovations.”

The stadium, with its 14,000-seat capacity, has no dugouts. Not because they couldn’t do it, but because there simply wasn’t enough time during the offseason. Things are so bad at the stadium that the home team has to walk a considerable distance to reach their clubhouse, while the visiting team has to enter through the centerfield gate to get to theirs.

In fact, the press meet took place in a trap shed that looked like it was set up just hours before the game. Samson also highlighted that the pictures released by them showing their clubhouse were just a setup. He jokingly pointed out that there wasn’t a single brown spot on the bananas placed on the table. While his comment may have been tongue-in-cheek, the reality of the Athletics playing in a minor league ballpark is raising more concerns than solving problems.

Even before the Athletics made the move to Sacramento, The Athletic ran a poll among MLB players about the relocation. Since the players’ names were kept anonymous, they shared some pretty honest opinions. One even said, “It doesn’t seem like they want to win.” While they acknowledged that the Oakland stadium wasn’t great, it seems the A’s couldn’t find a better option than Sacramento.

If the Athletics were hoping to quiet down the critics with a fresh start, they’ve instead handed them a megaphone. A major league team playing in a stadium without dugouts and with a clubhouse trek that feels like a pilgrimage? That’s not progress—it’s more like a comedy sketch waiting for its punchline. And with performances like these, the joke might just be on Oakland all season long.

Cubs’ Ryan Brasier slams the Oakland Athletics’ Sacramento move

MLB has seen its fair share of questionable decisions, but few have left players scratching their heads quite like this one. Ryan Brasier, never one to mince words, has made his feelings crystal clear. While the Athletics are busy settling into their new “home,” Brasier is wondering why a big-league team is playing in a ballpark that screams minor leagues.

We all knew this would cause some trouble when the Athletics revealed where they would be playing their games. After just one game in the ballpark against the Cubs, their pitcher, Brasier, said, “I think it’s so stupid that we have to play at a Triple-A stadium when they have maybe not a perfectly good ballpark in Oakland, but a big-league ballpark.”

The main problem arises when traveling teams are asked to adjust to a makeshift venue that is not comfortable. The old stadium might be flawed in many ways. But according to Brasier, it would be so much better playing there than at a minor league stadium.

If the Athletics were hoping to escape criticism by leaving Oakland, they’ve only managed to trade old complaints for new ones. A big-league team forced into a minor-league setup? That’s not an upgrade—it’s a downgrade with a fresh coat of paint. And if this is the A’s idea of progress, don’t be surprised if more players start speaking out.